Christopher Nathen Elliot Travis, Gun-Wielding Student Shot by Police, Dies

By Erin Sherbert Wed., Nov. 16 2011 at 2:05 PM

Student shot and killed

UC Berkeley officials announced this morning that Christopher Nathen Elliot Travis, the student who was shot by university police after he brandished a gun on campus yesterday afternoon, has died.

Travis, 32, had started as an undergraduate student in the fall. He was walking into the building's computer lab at the Haas School of Business yesterday at about 2:20 p.m. when a school official said they spotted him with a gun inside his backpack. University police followed Travis into the computer lab, ordering him to put his hands up. Instead, Travis allegedly took out a gun and pointed it at the cops, according to the university.

A police officer shot Travis, who died last night at Highland Hospital in Oakland.

"This is one of the most difficult times we have had as a community," Chancellor Robert Birgeneau said in a statement. "I want to thank the Haas staff for their alertness in this issue. It was just extraordinary. This sets an example for responsibility and alertness. I also want to thank the police for their very quick response."

University officials confirmed that there was no connection between Travis and the Occupy Berkeley movement on campus; however, they do not know why Travis had a gun.

Counselors with the University Health Services were dispatched yesterday to the Haas School and will be there throughout today. "Our heart goes out to the family of this young man," Birgeneau told the group of more than 200 faculty, students, and staff this morning.

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Tags:

Chancellor Robert Birgeneau, Christopher Nathen Elliot Travis, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, University police

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Dwa1127

lived in cale. so i would guess he had a gun to protect himself, and by the way if he had a gun in his back pack, with books, paper, and its all zipped up how did he have the time to un zip his bag, look for the gun, and pull it on police without them stopping him or takeing cover to make shure he was actuley getting a gun, the story doesent detal enoph to confirm the story police gave us all, i demand a video, proof, there has to be one sence 98% of schools have video servalence in every room and hallway....so proove that he acted first. yes i knew chris, he was a good man........

Shawn

Thank you Dwa1127, Chris was a good friend of mine and one of the quietist, most polite and respectful people I have ever met. I read somewhere that someone is claiming this was a "suicide by cop", that is horse sh*t; if that is what he wanted to do he could do that on any street corner and not endanger others, and Chris would not have endangered anyone. Something doesn't gel, I am sorry.

kimmy

I agree... Something doesn't add up. But if he wanted to kill himself, he has a gun, he could do it himself. They shouldn't have killed him, sorry for your lost.

Seejur

If someone had a gun, and I work as a policeman, I don't try to tackle him, I shoot him if he tries to take out the gun (why risk your life?), so I can understand why they would behave that way. I dunno if the lab has cameras, you could check (I'm in CS, not business), but that's were the shooting happens, other cameras would show nothing important. On the other hand I also agree that we should hear more about this story. Weren't any other students in the lab during the shooting that can confirm the story?

Thegrimreaper5000

Dude, you're a pussy. Put the gun in your mouth and blow your peanut braisn out.

texteacher8

After the shootings at other schools, the officers had no choice in handling the sitution as they did. I cannot think of a good reason for a student to be carrying a weapon on campus.

kimmy

Yes it was wrong for him to carry a gun. But they didn't have to kill him. Police need more training on aiming.

Nikesh Amin

He didn't just carry the gun. He pulled it out and aimed it at the police. I think that everyone with two brain cells knows that if you point a gun at a police officer, you have a better chance than not of ending up dead. There is no question, if the facts as they have been presented are true, that these officers acted in full accordance of the law and that they should not be blamed. This man is responsible for his death and anyone who blames the police is irresponsible. When someone aims a gun at you, you assume that they are trying to kill you. A person who has been shot in the leg can still fire back so you don't gamble with your own life and try to disable him. You put him down for good.

cambeul41

The officer was apparently on target. The standard training is to shoot ""center of mass," (heart/lungs) to stop the attack immediately. If you think they should shoot to would or shoot the gun out of the attacker's hand, you have been watching too much Hollywood.